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Comanches win district opener over Boys Ranch

The West Texas Comanches opened up District play Friday night in Stinnett with a 21-6 win over the Rough Riders from Boys Ranch. The win sets up a big showdown next week in Canadian, who lost in double over time to Sunray. Every team in the District was ranked in the top 25 in Class A Friday, in what is arguably the toughest 1A District in the state. The Comanches need to cut out the penalties and turnovers to stay competitive within the District, and that is definitely doable. The Tribe did what they’ve been doing very well all year, and that’s play stingy defense, and run the football. Alex Ramirez was again the leading rusher for the Comanches with 163 yards on 22 carries. Colin Coleman had 59 yards. The defense was stingy, tough, and down right scary at times. They held Boys Ranch to 102 yards of total offense, and 97 of those were in the first half, leaving just 5 yards in the second half. Credit that to big Ty Lay, Austin Ivy, and Cheyne Keasler. These big guys wore out and wore down, the poor quarterback from the Ranch. While they were busy chasing him and the other backs down, Brice Martin, Ramirez, Carlos Juarez, Connor St. Charles, and Coleman were all over their receivers. They were 2 for 10 passing for six yards and an interception by Ramirez. The “gale force” winds did reek havoc on the passing and kicking of both teams.The Comanches kicked off to the Ranch and cause a fumble on their second play from scrimmage. WT recovered the ball, after Cade Guinn stripped it at the Riders 30 yard line. Coleman and Ramirez moved the ball closer to pay dirt with Ramirez doing the honors from four yards out for the touchdown. Ramirez’ PAT was good for a 7-0 Comanche lead with 8:05 in the opening quarter, and that was the score after one.WT’s next score came early in the second quarter on a twenty five yard Ramirez run. His kick was true for a 14-0 lead with 11:52 in the second quarter. Boys Ranch in the meantime, enjoyed some bonding time with the likes of Lay, Ivy, Keasler, while Ramirez, St. Charles, and Guinn had some with the receiving corp. After a stop on fourth down, the Tribe ran the “two minute drill” like a champ, moving the ball down field like a well oiled machine. A pass from Ramirez to Juarez, and runs from Coleman and Ramirez set up fourth and three on the six yard line. Ramirez connected with Juarez, who made a spectacular one handed catch for the touchdown. Ramirez added the PAT for a 21-0 score with 27 ticks left till the half.The second half was a little boring in terms of offense. The Tribe acured most of their forty five penalty yardage in their first possession of the second half, as they moved backwards on most every play. The upside of that was, when Boys Ranch got the ball, the defense shut down the Rough Riders and backed them up into a fourth and thirty five.The lone score for the Riders came with just over ten minutes left in the third quarter. Their two point try was no good for a 21-6 score at the end of three. The Tribe put together a nice drive in the fourth quarter, but came up short. A 31 yard field goal attempt by Ramirez was just barely wide left. Ramiirez’ interception at midfield ended any hopes Boys Ranch had of putting more points on the board. WT drove to the six yard line, before running out the clock to end the game.The win moved the Comanches to 5-1 on the year and 1-0 in District. The Tribe has a huge game in Canadian next week. If they play well and eliminate penalties and turnovers, expect a great game. Kick off is at 7:30.